November 5, 2015 • Article

November 5, 2015—Dr. Greg Shannon, an IEEE senior member and cybersecurity expert from the CERT Division of the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), recently began an assignment in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) as assistant director for cybersecurity strategy in the National Security and International Affairs Division.

IEEE-USA provided a fellowship to Carnegie Mellon University to partially support faculty or staff who have the opportunity to serve temporarily in the Executive Office of the President.

Since 2010, Shannon has been chief scientist for the SEI's CERT Division. The division is dedicated to improving the security and resilience of computer systems and networks, especially for national security, homeland defense and critical infrastructure.

As chief scientist, Shannon leads the division to advance the science of cybersecurity with new research capabilities for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (IARPA), and the Department of Homeland Security.

In his current role at OSTP, Shannon will work on:

accelerating innovation & policy in cybersecurity research & development

effective and efficient cybersecurity technologies and practices

the interdependence of security and privacy

sustainable diversity of thought in the cybersecurity workforce

OSTP is authorized by Congress to “lead interagency efforts to develop and implement sound science and technology policies and budgets, and to work with the private sector, state and local governments, the science and higher education communities, and other nations toward this end.”

Shannon recently served as general chair for the IEEE Symposium on Security & Privacy and was chair of the IEEE Cybersecurity Initiative until August.

“My goal as chair was to accelerate innovative research, development and use of efficient cybersecurity and privacy technologies that protect commerce, innovation and expression,” Shannon said.